xp_logs | Log: Coming Home - Jane, Xavier

Jane slowly picked across her bedroom, sinking down on the edge of her bed as she surveyed the mess of her life, as exemplified by her bedroom. Clothing drooped lazily over half-closed drawers. Papers were spread haphazardly over he desk. The floor was covered in debris. Worse, the apartment was empty. Mike had taken their money and his things and was gone. He hadn't left anything behind except for a note saying 'sorry'.

Mike had been acting odd even before she lost her job at the Guava Hut the week before. Hiding letters, making calls, looking at maps on the computer. She'd half-expected that he'd been offered a research position somewhere and that he was getting up the courage to ask her to move with him.

It looked like he'd moved without her.

She hadn't been able to find a job – everywhere she'd canvassed this past week wasn't hiring or likely to be hiring in the near future, rent was due, (past due, actually,) and a learner's permit wasn't going to get her far. With an irritated groan, Jane flopped backward and covered her eyes with her hand. There was no help for it. She was going to have make the call. Grabbing her cell, Jane flipped it open and dialed Xavier's.

It took only a minute or two for her to reach the Professor; Dani put her through right away upon hearing who it was, and the phone rang only once in Charles's office before a familiar warm voice was greeting her. "Hello, Jane. It's very good to hear from you."

The Professor's voice resonated warmly down the line, and Jane felt a wave of homesickness was over her. Or maybe it was regular nervous sickness. Either way her stomach felt weird. "Hi Professor. I guess it's been a while, huh?"

"Some time, yes. In fact, I was thinking of you recently - I had planned to call, but we've had an eventful few weeks." There might have been a touch of wryness in Charles's voice, but it was gone again as he continued. "How are things?"

"Oh," Jane began in a falsely bright tone. "Helena is really nice right now. There are kids all over the place now that classes have started at the college. And the trees were really pretty this fall, plus they're already talking about snow! But…" Hearing herself babble, she trailed off and sighed. "Well, to be honest, sir, things aren't so good. I kind of need some help. I want to come home."

There was only the briefest of pauses. "I'm sorry to hear that you've run into difficulties," Charles said, and there was still nothing but kindness in his voice, if tinged by concern now. "As I told you when you left, Jane, you will always have a home here. Is there anything I can do to help you get back? Arrange a plane ticket, perhaps?"

Jane hadn't thought that far ahead. She'd definitely been more concerned with being allowed to go back. Getting there hadn't even entered her thoughts. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "A plane ticket would be great. I— could it be for soon? I don't know how much longer I can stay here."

"I can arrange for a flight tomorrow, if you like," Charles responded immediately, soothingly. "I'll wire some traveling money to you as well - please, no objections," he said. "What's most important is that you get here safely. Once you have a chance to stop and take stock of what you'd like to do next, we can work from there."

Jane let out a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Tomorrow would be great, Professor. Thank you." It didn't leave her a lot of time to pack her things, but then there wasn't all that much she wanted to keep, either. "I really appreciate this. Both the ticket and your letting me come back. I can't wait to be home." Her voice cracked on the last word, tears flooding her eyes. Covering a sniffle with a weak giggle, she grabbed her checkbook. "Okay, here's my account number..."

"It will be so good to see you," Charles said once he'd taken down the number, nothing but warmth in his voice. "I'll let Leonard know that you're returning, shall I? Although I'll let you be the one to speak to your friends here, I believe... it's always enjoyable to be able to deliver the pleasant surprise in person."

"That sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again." Jane grinned into the phone, feeling much more reassured that everything would be okay than she had in days. "I guess I'd better get moving if I'm going to get everything settled before I go. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"I'll look forward to it, Jane."

Saying goodbye, Jane closed her phone with a quiet snap. Everything was going to be all right. Kind of crazy, maybe, but all right.